[ATM] When is a transformer, not. . .

[artbianconi@blast.net]

To all of you who responded to my mistake on Variacs, thank you.
I must be loosing brain cells faster than I thought! 

I have a huge high amperage variable resistance device in the 
shop that is in fact, little more than a very heavy 
potentiometer. (Would you believe 15 pounds!?) It's resemblance 
to the Variac, on the surface at least, didn't help any.

Still, the caveat about the inability of the Variac to insulate 
you from fatal amounts of current, is valid and THAT is the point 
I want to stress. I am not certain that a GFI will respond 
quickly enough to provide the needed protection. I simply do not 
know. 

One of the safest method I know of for cutting foam cores with 
hot wire for use as telescope mandrels, is to wire a substantial 
power transformer  in series with the Variac, and feed the Variac 
from whatever tap on the secondary is appropriate for the amount 
of foam you are cutting. The additional transformer, not only 
insulates you from the total line current available,  but it 
makes the Variac better able to fine tune the amount of heat 
being generated by the cutter. 

Another method that has been used with a lot of success is to 
nail a length of Nichrome Heating wire from an old toaster to a 
length of 1 x 6 length of lumber, using a Zig Zag pattern. The 
ire is not stapled to the wood but wrapped  once around a nail so 
that the wire is elevated above the surface of the board. 

Wired in series with a 12 volt car battery fed by a battery 
charger,  you vary the current flow through the foam cutter's 
wire, by moving the connection along the resistive wire with an 
alligator clip.

I read a scientific report that says that eating apples appears 
to provide a chemistry that delays the onset of neuro-
degenerative disease. (no kidding!)

I just bought a bushel basket of Granny's (kidding)

Art Bianconi

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